As you enter the area of the ancient city Pompeii excavation site, you will be able to get your tickets, maps, info booklets and audio guides here.

However, you can always plan what to see in Pompeii ahead, that's why we have prepared a map of ancient Pompeii for you!

Ancient City of Pompeii: Entrance Fees

Pompeii entrance fee: €11 per adult

Free of charge: EU citizens under 18 and over 65 years old.

Reductions: EU citizens under 26.

Info booklets and Pompeii map: free of charge

Audio guides: €6.50 or two for €10

Ancient City Pompeii: Getting Around

When you visit the ancient city Pompeii keep in mind the old Roman cobblestone roads can be very exhausting to walk on.
So do wear solid, flat and closed footwear.

If you are disabled, this will not be the site to use a scooter or a manual wheelchair, the roads are just too uneven. You would have to literally lift the wheelchair over the obstacles: large cracks, drainage gutters, curbs, stepping stones...not to mention getting it into house ruins!

Not even strollers would be easier to use and most people will have them folded to be able to walk around.

If you are taking kids with you to Pompeii, make sure you keep and eye on them as they might get hurt standing at the edge of the digs or climbing the walls.

Some parts of Pompeii and Pompeii homes have restricted access and that should be respected.

The Ancient City of Pompeii: Opening Times

April to October: open daily from 8:30am - 7:30pm

November to March: open daily from 8:30am - 5:00pm

Closed: 1st January, 1st May, 25th December

To find out more up to date info on the opening times and entrance fees to the ancient city of Pompeii, visit their official website here.

If you are to visit Pompeii ruins independently, try to get there early in the morning before the tour buses arrive.

The Ancient City Pompeii: Tour Guides

The site doesn't really have it's own official tour guides so you will find many of them hovering around the entrance offering their services, some of them just claiming to be guides.

The official guides authorised by the Regione Campania have to show their licences upon request.

If you need a guide when visiting Pompeii, you better book one through a reputable business online.

When you purchase your tickets at the entrance, you will be getting a little info booklet on the top Pompeii attractions and a free map, too.

The Ancient City Pompeii: Miscellaneous Tips

Make sure you have bottled water with you before you enter the site, in summer it gets very hot and dusty.

Have a hat to protect yourself from the sun, it gets very hot here in summer and there isn't much shade.

Apply a lot of sunscreen, you will be walking in the sun for at least a couple of hours

Keep in mind you will be spending at least 2 hours inside the ancient city of Pompeii excavation site, that's the minimum you need to experience the site and get an idea of what it's all about.

Use the toilet before you enter the site, there are some at the main entrance. Once you enter the ruins, there is only one close to the main entrance and that's about it. You don't want to walk for 15 minutes from one side of Pompeii ruins to the other side when you really need to go!

Photographs and filming are authorized for private use

Smoking is not permitted

Pets are not allowed on the site

There is a cafe inside the site, apparently not serving food as of 2009. The restaurans outside the Pompeii entrance are very expensive. You will be better off eating in Sorrento Italy or Naples.